Law and Duties Flashcards
(18 cards)
What does law impose on individuals?
An obligation - ‘ought’ or ‘should’
Law serves as a guideline for behavior and decision-making.
What is the role of law in achieving personal fulfillment?
Helps you get to your final goal, totally fulfilled
Law is seen as a means to reach one’s ultimate purpose in life.
Define rights in the context of moral power.
The moral power to do something, hold office, or exact something
Rights are often associated with entitlements or permissions in a moral framework.
What are duties in relation to moral and spiritual responsibilities?
Moral and spiritual responsibilities to love and serve God and others, follow Catholic teachings and virtues
Duties reflect obligations that individuals have towards others and their faith.
What is the Principle of Double Effect?
Allows a morally good action that has both good and unintended bad effects, if certain conditions are met
This principle is often discussed in ethical dilemmas.
List the 5 characteristics of a good law according to St. Thomas Aquinas.
- Reasonable
- Common good
- Authority
- Promulgated
- Command/Ordinance
Each characteristic emphasizes the rational and ethical foundations of law.
What does it mean for a law to be reasonable?
Must be based on reason
Reasonability ensures that laws are logical and justifiable.
What is meant by the common good in law?
It should benefit the whole society it controls
Laws are designed to serve the interests of the community as a whole.
Who can make laws according to the principle of authority?
Only legitimate authorities can make laws
This principle highlights the importance of recognized governance in law-making.
What does it mean for a law to be promulgated?
Must be clearly communicated to the people
Clear communication ensures that the public is aware of laws and their implications.
Define command/ordinance in the context of law.
Authoritative rule guiding actions for the common good
This aspect of law emphasizes its role in directing behavior towards positive outcomes.
Why is it important to understand where laws come from?
It helps us see the order and purpose behind laws
Understanding the origins of laws fosters a deeper appreciation for their role in society.
What do Catholic teachings emphasize about laws?
All laws should be rooted in God’s eternal law
This perspective aligns human laws with divine principles.
Which kind of law is broader, God’s eternal law or human laws?
God’s eternal law
God’s law is seen as perfect, universal, and unchanging.
What types of entities do not have rights?
Objects, unliving things, and animals
These entities lack the intellectual capacity to understand or assert rights.
What is the purpose of law?
To guide all things to their final destination and flourishing
Law is intended to facilitate the well-being and development of individuals and society.
What are the conditions for applying the Principle of Double Effect?
- The act itself has to be good or at least neutral
- You need to intend the good effect and only tolerate the bad effect
- The good effect must not come from the bad effect
- The good effect must be equal or greater than the bad effect
These conditions help ensure that moral actions are ethically justified.
Analyze the action of a doctor prescribing medication to a cancer patient.
Action - doctor giving medicine to a cancer patient
Good Effect - treating the cancer
Bad Effect - possible life threatening allergic reaction
This scenario illustrates the application of the Principle of Double Effect in medical ethics.
